Noblesville Post 45 Rallies to Support Flood-Affected Community

When torrential rainfall caused the White River to rise rapidly and displaced residents throughout the Noblesville area, American Legion Post 45 answered the call by opening its doors to the community.

With the post located only about two blocks from the river, Post Commander Luke Randazzo and Post Adjutant Gil Soria made the difficult decision to remain closed Friday because of the dangerous conditions.

“Safety was our first concern, with the amount of rain coming down and how quickly the river was rising,” Randazzo said.

Early Saturday morning, post leadership reassessed the situation. After confirming the building had electricity, running water, internet access, and a safe route for visitors, Post 45 opened at 10 a.m.

The post quickly became a place where displaced residents, volunteers, and first responders could step away from the ongoing stress of the disaster. Visitors could charge their phones, access the internet, rest, and allow their children to watch television or spend time in a safe, dry environment.

Soria shared an online request for supplies, announcing that Post 45 would accept donations to help those affected by the flooding. The message was circulated through the Post’s social media channels and shared by Legion Family members throughout the local community.

The response was immediate.

Community members began arriving with needed supplies. A local Meijer store responded without hesitation, donating food and an entire pallet of bottled water to Post 45. The donations helped support displaced residents, first responders, and the volunteers who remained at the post to receive and organize supplies and assist visitors.

Although Post 45 experienced some water damage during the storms, its members remained focused on helping their neighbors.

“The post did receive a little bit of water damage during the rains, but we are still functioning,” Randazzo said. “We are still available, and we are still taking donations.”

Post 45 continues to accept donations during its regular operating hours. Community members who need assistance are also encouraged to visit the post and ask for support.

“We are here. We are open. We are functioning,” Randazzo said. “If you don’t know how you would like to help the community and would like to donate, we are accepting donations during our open hours. If you are in need of assistance, please don’t hesitate to stop by and ask for support.”

In a moment of uncertainty, Noblesville Post 45 demonstrated what The American Legion does best: they recognized a need, brought people together, and are serving their community.